Mitsubishi forms
Canadian spinoff for hydrogen generator J apan's Mitsubishi Corporation has established a spinoff company in Canada to develop, manufacture and market the recently demonstrated High-pressure Hydrogen Energy Generator (HHEG) electrolyzer [FCB, June], which can produce high-pressure hydrogen without a compressor.
Vancouver-based H3 Energy Ltd will develop a commercial HHEG product producing 30 Nm 3 /h and 40 MPa (400 bar) by the end of 2005, targeting initial sales in markets such as small-scale industrial applications and hydrogen refueling stations for FCVs. The company also plans to develop a model that can generate 80 MPa hydrogen for FCVs currently under development that will store 70 MPa hydrogen.
H3 Energy is headed up by Mitsubishi's Kensuke Tojima as president/CEO, while the inventor of the HHEG technology, Dr Hiroyuki Harada, becomes executive VP and CTO. All resources related to HHEG, including intellectual properties, trademarks, a prototype unit and knowhow, have been transferred to the new entity. The company has initiated negotiations with several potential joint development and alliance partners.
H3 Energy has also opened a branch in Japan, which will continue R&D and manufacturing efforts, at least initially, and manage HHEG sales and partner alliances in the Japanese market.